Editorial: The laws are intended for all

The Patriot Ledger

Friday

Feb 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMFeb 29, 2008 at 7:52 PM

Imam Muhammad Masood has contributed much to the region as former spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of New England’s Sharon mosque but his violation of the immigration laws and his admitted lying should result in his deportation.

One of the many things that separate us from other countries is that we are a nation of laws and at the core of our judicial system is a belief that the laws be applied evenhandedly.

Imam Muhammad Masood has contributed much to the region as former spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of New England’s Sharon mosque but his violation of the immigration laws and his admitted lying should result in his deportation.

Masood pleaded guilty to five counts of visa fraud and making false statement on his green card application.

The imam came to America in 1988 on a student visa to study at Boston University. He said he returned to Pakistan but federal officials compiled an overwhelming amount of evidence that he remained here, worked here, lived here and raised a family here.

Indeed, three of Masood’s youngest children are American citizens, having been born in this country since he arrived.

While we empathize with Imam Masood’s plight, we cannot excuse the fact he lied to federal officials.

Masood’s lawyers say they will seek political asylum for the father of eight, fearing a return to Pakistan could be dangerous for him and his family.

Masood’s brother, Hafiz Saeed, is the founder of a banned Pakistani extremist group, Lashkar-e-Toiba. The imam has said he opposes his brother’s violence and ideology.

No one thinks Masood is his brother or even holds the same beliefs as his brother. We’d think he would not want to remain here if he did.

But allowing Masood to remain would open the floodgates to any number of illegal immigrants looking to circumvent the system.

According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University, Masood is clearly not being singled out. Between 2004 and 2006, the Department of Homeland Security brought criminal immigration charges against 814,073. Of that, more than 86 percent involved a variety of immigration violations such as entering the U.S. without an inspection, not having a valid immigrant visa, or overstaying a student visa.

We have endorsed the failed immigration proposals by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and President Bush that would give illegal immigrants a chance to become citizens. We hope the measures can be resurrected and enacted with a new Congress and president.

But to allow someone who pleaded guilty to both violating the immigrations laws and adding to it by perjuring himself undercuts the reform efforts and thins support for making change.

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